Pole-tip.



C. L. LEAR.

POLE TIP,

APPLICATION FILED DEC.3I, 1915.

1,225,829., Patented May15, 191?.

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CHARLES L. LEAR, 0F BURTON,IQ'EBRASKA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 15, 1917.

Application filed December 31, 1915. Serial No. 69,628.

This invention relates to any animal drawn vehicle pole tips and has as its object to provide a tip so constructed as to prevent accidents which might otherwise occur in the event of the draft animal or animals running away or disconnection or breaking of the traces or whifiie trees, the tip embodying means for preventing disengagement therefrom of the neck yoke.

Another aim of the invention is to provide a pole tip embodying means for preventing disengagement of the neck yoke therefrom, which means will not prevent the neck yoke being readily and conveniently engaged with the tip and which may be readily manipulated so as to permit of disengagement of the neck yoke when desired, the means, however, being arranged to positively prevent disengagement of the neck yoke and thereby hold the vehicle against running backward in the event of breaking of the harness traces or whifiie trees when driving uphill, and supporting the pole in the event of a runaway so as to prevent the end of the pole striking anddigging into the road surface which would be likely to cause injury to the passengers in the vehicle.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the pole tip embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view therethrough.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, illustrating a slight modification of the invention.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a portion of the retaining device removed from the tip.

In the drawings the numeral 1 indicates the pole to which the tip embodying the present invention is applied and the said tip comprises a tubular body 2 open at both ends and fitted and secured in any suitable manner at its inner end to the said pole 1 as shown in the drawing. The tip 2 at its outer end is interiorly threaded as indicated at 3 and removably fitted therein is a bushing 4 provided with sockets 5 or any other suitable means for the application of a spanner wrench whereby the bushing may be applied and removed as desired. As will be presently explained, the bushing 4 serves as a support for the stem of the retaining means and as an abutment for the spring which normally holds the fingers of the retaining means in projected position.

The stem of the retaining means is indicated by the numeral 6 and is slidably fitted the bushing 4, the stem at its outer end being provided with a knob 8 either integral therewith or secured thereto in any suitable manner and constituting a means whereby the stem may be drawn forwardly against the tension of the spring above referred to and for a purpose to be presently explained. The stem 6 is provided at its inner end with a head 9 having spaced ears 10 and fitted upon the stem is a spring 11 which bears at one end against the bushing 4 and at its other end against the said head, the spring normally holding the stem retracted or moved rearwardly so that the knob 8 will rest against the bushing 4. Retaining fingers 12 are pivotally mounted at their inner ends upon a pivot pin 13 extending between the ears 10 and at their outer ends these fingers project through the slots 14 formed in the opposite sides of the tubular body 2, the

fingers having curved rearwardly presented edges 15 designed to ride against the rear walls of the slots 14 and thereby cause outward projection of the fingers when the stem 6 is moved rearwardly through the action of the spring 11. A transverse pin 16 is fitted through and secured at its ends in the wall of the body 2 and is designed to be engaged by the ends of the cars 10 of the head 9 in the rearward movement of the stem and head, the pin constituting an auxiliary means for limiting such movement and coacting with the knob 8 for this purpose. In order to limit the backward movement of the tongue of the neck yoke when engaged with the pole tip, the tip is formed exteriorly with a shoulder or flange 17 located rearwardly beyond the slots 14 through which the retaining fingers project. It will now be understood by reference to Fig. 2 of the drawing that when the tongue of the neck yoke is fitted over the outer end of the pole tip and is moved rearwardly thereon and the knob 8 is pulled forwardly, the fingers 12 will move inwardly until the said tongue of through an opening 7 formed centrally in the neck yoke has passed the ends of the fingers. Upon release of the knob 8 the fingers will be again forced outwardly and will prevent accidental disengagement of the said neck yoke tongue from the tip. When it is desired to disengage the tongue of the neck yoke from the tip it is only necessary to pull upon the knob 8 whereby to retract the retaining fingers and then slide the said tongue forwardly upon the tip past the slots 14. That form of the device shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing is particularly designed for application to the poles or tongues of relatively light vehicles whereas the form shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing is designed especially for use in connection with the poles or tongues of heavier vehicles. In this latter form of the invention the stem 6 is provided between its ends with an integral stop collar 18 designed to abut against the bushing 1 when the stem has been drawn forwardly a predetermined distance and at its forward end the stem is provided with a hook 19 which is substituted for the knob 8 above referred to and with which may be engaged a chain or rope.

As before stated, the retaining fingers 12 project through opposite sides of the body 2 of the tip and by reason of this fact are designed to more efiectually prevent disengagement of the neck yoke tongue from the tip and are not likely to rip through the said tongue which, however, would in all probability occur if but a single one of the fingers were employed and projected through the under side of the said body. It will also be understood from the foregoing and from inspection of the drawings, that force ap- Copies plied in a forward direction against the outer ends of the retaining fingers 12 will only tend to more firmly bind the head against the pin 16 and the knob 8 against the bushing 1.

As before stated, the tip shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings is designed particularly for use in connection with heavy vehicles and in instances where four draft animals are harnessed abreast. Under such conditions when the ordinary pole tip is employed, unless the neck yoke is wired or chained to the tip, if the two inner animals move ahead of the outer animals the neck yoke will become disengaged.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

In a device of the class described, a hollow tubular body provided in its opposite sides with openings and interiorly threaded at its outer end, a plug removably fitted into the threaded end of the body and provided axially with a bore, a stem slidably fitted within the said bore, a head at the inner end of the stem, retaining fingers pivo'tally connected with the said head and projecting through the said openings, a spring upon the stem within the said body bearing at one end against the head and at its other end against the plug, and an abutment upon the stem between the forward end thereof and the said head arranged to coact with the plug to limit the outward movement of the stem against the tension of the said spring.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature.

CHARLES L. LEAR. 11s.

of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0. 

